As the Winter Session of the Maharashtra Legislature in Nagpur wraps up on Saturday, a critical issue remains unresolved—illegal political hoardings. Despite repeated warnings from the Nagpur Bench of the Bombay High Court, these hoardings, erected by political workers to welcome senior leaders, continue to dominate the cityscape.
On December 19, the High Court issued contempt notices to all political parties, citing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) addressing the surge in illegal hoardings across the state. These unauthorized banners, often featuring political figures, remain a safety hazard and an eyesore.
The issue gained urgency after a recent incident near the Kamptee Road double-decker flyover, where a man was seriously injured by a falling hoarding. In the past, such incidents have claimed multiple lives, yet political workers persist in putting up these hoardings to impress their leaders.
Illegal hoardings are widespread, not only near the Vidhan Bhavan but also in areas like Civil Lines, the MLA hostel, flyovers, key intersections, and even the airport. However, the administration refrained from taking action for most of the Winter Session. A removal drive was initiated only on Friday, as the session neared its end, leaving many oversized hoardings untouched.
Dinesh Naidu, Secretary of Parivartan Organisation, criticized the inaction, stating, “The High Court must intervene and issue contempt notices against the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) and city police. Not a single FIR has been filed despite hundreds of illegal hoardings in the city.”